Carter’s Folly

A short connector trail that connects the Allen’s Trail neighborhood with conservation lands along Lost Lake Rd.  Across Rte. 40 from Allen’s Trail, about ¼-mile away from Carter’s Folly, is the very large Wharton Plantation.

Carter’s Folly provides access to trails in the Baddacook Woods and Skitapet Conservation Land parcels. The land contains mature oak, maple, hickory, and white pine forest at higher elevations, and wetland resources in the form of an intermittent stream and the southern end of a deep marsh.

Size: 21 acres

Owner: Groton Conservation Trust

History

Donated to the Groton Conservation Trust by Anne Carter and the Carter Family in 2021. The Carter family used the land for summer gatherings for many years. Anne Carter and her daughter Sarah proposed “Carters’ Folly” as the name for the property. “Carters’” because it honors Anne and Franklin Carter. “Folly” because they never did anything with the land, other than enjoy it in its natural state. Read more history on the Groton Conservation Trust’s website.

Directions

Enter from Allen’s Trail

Map(s)

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Private paths are shown in light gray. Please stay on paths and respect private property on these trails.
 Parking

 Trailhead

Activities & Features

Nearby Places


Baddacook Woods

A small parcel at the end of Allen’s Trail that connects to Groton Conservation Trust’s Carter’s Folly parcel. Note: The trails in Baddacook Woods and Carter’s Folly need to be mapped out, but they are there.  The GTC just need to get them GPS’ed. These parcels connect the southern end of Wharton to Skitapet.
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Skinner Forest Area

Skinner Forest Conservation area is a very nice hiking area with several miles of trails. Trail difficulty is generally easy with some moderately difficult hills. Trail conditions are good, though they are rocky as this used to be a logging area.
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Wharton Plantation

Large parcel with diverse terrain includes eskers, a heron rookery, and kettle ponds. Boombox and Sledgehammer trails are ideal for technical mountain biking. Connects to Gamlin Crystal Springs and Mason Back 100. Look for eskers, kettle ponds, a heron rookery, and old farm walls on the North Loop Primary Trail. On the Baddacook side trail,...
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Difficulty

Easy